Turning point: How these Bollywood stars managed to hit the jackpot

They may have had humble beginnings but post that one crucial move, these celebs have walked the hallowed corridors of fame. Just one twist in their tale and these personalities managed a big leap

They say that Mumbai is the land of opportunities. This certainly holds true for the scores of people who leave their hometowns in order to chase their dreams of making it big in tinseltown. And while many have seen their aspirations bite dust, there’s a sizeable bunch of celebs who have achieved what they set out to. These are Bollywood celebs who came, saw and conquered the hearts of audiences with their histrionics. Each of one of these celebs has seen his / her fate change for the better after that crucial turning point and until then, success had evaded them.

Standup comedian Kapil Sharma’s story is one such. His show, Comedy Nights with Kapil, single-handedly catapulted him to a dizzying height of success. Sources say that he has just purchased a spacious 5,000 square feet apartment in a high-rise building near Mega Mall, Andheri. He has been staying in his one bedroom apartment since the last seven years and two years ago, he purchased a place for his parents in Amritsar as they were staying in the police quarters.

The source adds that Kapil Sharma will not be shifting to the new apartment any time soon. Kapil could not be reached for a comment, but a close friend confirmed the story. “Yes, this is the second flat that Kapil has bought in Mumbai. He will not be shifting as of now, but hopefully the flatwill be done up by next year,” said the friend.

Meanwhile, real estate developer Shadaab Patel says that Kapil’s new place could easily cost around Rs 10-11 crore. “It’s a high-rise with ultra modern amenities and it also has two car parking areas, so the cost will be high,” he says.

hitlist takes a look at other celebs whose lives received that much needed push after a turning point...

Sidharth MalhotraOriginally from:Delhi. Sidharth was a model before he came down to Mumbai and began assisting filmmaker Karan Johar.The big break: When KJo decided to launch Sidharth in his directorial venture, Student of The Year two years ago. Sidharth debuted in the film along with Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. Even though actor is not an industry kid, in past two years, he has managed to make his mark with his other films, Hasee Toh Phasee and Ek Villain as well. In both the movies, his performance was appreciated and the latter has gone on to collect Rs100 crore at the box office.

Sidharth Malhotra

Sunny LeoneOriginally from: An adult film star of Indian origin, she was born in Canada. She moved to America where she pursued her career in the adult film industry before setting her eyes on Bollywood.The big break:In 2011, Sunny was part of Bigg Boss and at that time, Mahesh Bhatt made a film offer to her. After doing her debut film Jism 2 with Bhatts, there has been no looking back for her. Not only does she have four films in her kitty, but she’s also doing item numbers in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. If this is not enough, she will now host a show as well.

Sunny Leone

Sushant Singh RajputOriginally from: He hails from Patna and studied in Delhi. After working in theatre, he appeared on a reality show and then started acting for television shows.The big break: Opportunity came knocking on Sushant’s door in the form of Abhishek Kapoor’s film, Kai Po Che!. He soon signed a three-film deal with Yashraj and is currently working with directors like Dibakar Banerjee, Rajkumar Hirani and Shekhar Kapoor. In just one and half years of his career, the actor has become a hot favourite among many filmmakers and this has now translated into a flood of film offers for him.

Sushant Singh Rajput

Rajkummar RaoOriginally from: Rao started doing theatre during his school days in Gurgaon. He then graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.The big break:For nearly four years, Rajkummar had to struggle to get work and he then did films like Love Sex Aur Dhokha and Ragini MMS. In Kai Po Che!, his work was noticed, but the biggest moment in his career came last year with Hansal Mehta’s Shahid where he played the titular role. He role won him critical acclaim and it fetched him a National Award. His performance in Citylights too was appreciated. He will be next seen in Dolly Ki Doli along with Sonam Kapoor and in Hamari Adhuri Kahani with Vidya Balan.

Rajkummar Rao

Ram KapoorOriginally from: While studying in Nainital, he realised his love for acting and he went on to do an acting course in the US.The big break: Upon his return to India, he became a part of the television industry as he starred in several hit shows. In fact, his three hit shows under Ekta Kapoor’s banner — Ghar Ek Mandir Hai, Kasam Se and Bade Achhe Lagte Hain — changed his career trajectory for good. Off late, he has been starring in films as well; he had prominent roles in productions such as Udaan, Mere Dad Ki Maruti and Humshakals. It is being said that with Bade Achhe Lagte Hain now off the air, the actor is concentrating more on his film projects. He has apparently signed on a few films already.